An outdoor equipment and sporting goods store has donated a total of $20,000 to four Grand Valley organizations as part of an annual nationwide grant program to preserve and maintain natural spaces through active volunteer programs. Recreation Equipment Inc. (REI) donated $5,000 grants to the Colorado Canyons Association, Colorado National Monument Association, Colorado Plateau Mountain […]
A man who managed information technology systems for colleges and universities around the country, soon will begin working as the new director of the Mesa County Information Technology Department. Frank Whidden is expected to begin his new position Aug. 22. Mesa County Administrator Chantal Unfug announced Whidden’s selection. “Frank has the expertise to guide our […]
A Denver lawyer long involved in business transactions has been selected to oversee economic development efforts for the state of Colorado. Ken Lund is the new executive director of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT). Lund previously served as chief legal counsel for Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper. Lund will remain a member […]
It’s official: Mesa State College is now Colorado Mesa University. A state law authorizing the change took effect Aug. 10. Staff, faculty and students at the university joined community members in celebrating the change the day before at a grand opening ceremony at Houston Hall, where a project expanded and renovated the first building on […]
Grand Junction has suffered some of the worst downturns in the labor and housing markets in a state that continues to lag behind the nation in economic recovery. A number of factors continue to hamper the Grand Junction economy, including lower educational attainment levels and household incomes, according to Scott Anderson and Ed Kashmarek, economists […]
A Western Colorado agency has received a $2.4 million grant extension to continue offering free weatherization services to low-income residents in a seven-county region. Housing Resources also was selected to participate in a national case study on the effectiveness of such programs. “We were picked because we performed the best in Colorado,” said Mike Hansen, […]
A leading indicator of construction activity in the United States continues to rise, but the overall outlook remains less promising. Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) increased 10 percent in the second quarter to an average of 8.1 months. That’s up from 7.3 months the previous quarter. The CBI is […]
A monthly index tracking conditions for small businesses in Colorado continues to decline as weakening global and national economies affect the state. “It’s unfortunate that the inherent strength of the Colorado economy, like many of its neighbors, is held back by external political and economic developments,” said Jeff Thredgold, a corporate economist who calculates the […]
A monthly measure of optimism among small business owners has declined for a fifth straight month, a decline that’s prompted one economist to suggest the index tracks pessimism instead. The National Federation of Independent Business reported that its Small Business Optimism Index fell another nine-tenths of a point to 89.9 in July. The decline was […]
A $7.1 million transaction has been completed to clear the way for what soon will become Colorado Mesa University to purchase the Community Hospital site in Grand Junction. The completion of the deal was announced in a news release issued by the university and hospital. The presidents of the university and hospital announced their plans […]